Latch construction



31, 1943- J. G. JOACHIM I 2,328,216

LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. '7, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet .1.

. INVENTOR. JOSE PH G. J OACHI M ATTO Aug. 31, 1943. JOACHIMI 2,328,216 v LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed 0013. 7. 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I4 l6 N ..sr.': r nae.

as I 7 INVENTOR- 22 23 22 JOSEPH e. JOAGHIM ATTORNE Patented Aug. 31, 1943 "UNITED STA S PATENT OFFICE 2,328,216 :mrcrr CONSTRUCTION Joseph'G. JoachiinjlDetroit, MichL, assignor to .TFerroStamping '& Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Michya corporation of Michigan 1 :Applicationfictober 7, 1940, Serial No. 360,178

GClaims. (01.292-110) Vhodies; wherein? thegslopeofithe neck closure is so pronouncedzaslto approach tthezhorizontalp y 1 fa mr hen object lofathe Present :"mvention reltdes lnzthe provisioniotuatlatchhavingxa pivoted bolt. mounted! iorqzslidinglmovementi in one" direction as: the bolt iSISWImKIlI-O 1 its latched position auditor: slidingimovementi in: the opposite direction as thezboltiis swung'to itsl'released position. a In; addition to-the foregoing; the; present invention contenmlatw atlatch o1.:the?type=set forth in I the; precedinggparagraph wherein a portion o! the boltslides into :Iengagement. withaportion of: the

holt supportinzqpl lte iaszzthefholtzisl swung toits latched position :toxprevent' accidental :or unauthorized movement of: the :bolt :lto its released maitionrandcwhenein: themrtion: aforesaid: or th 1201121 relcnsoditmmntheasunportingaplate when the bolt is :awung rtozitsuehased Mithtthe itoremingeamwelllas other. objects" in iriomthevinrentionresme in thenovel construc- Mon-:01 tbeizlatch awhlchzzwili zbei'more tully herem m: et :forth. :esmcially when considered in connection with sthe receomvanying drawings, wherein-1 A t a 1 vi I @mure M1 is &':S0ml1-dimmmtlcffragmentary sectional Mew t of gtheweah ideck portion 01' the vel'llnlerhody {a latch constructed in aeeos-dmcewrithxzheapresent r invention; installed-en menses-closure; l I -l'igure'ais'a planwiew of the latch shown in Figure 3 is a sfde eleva h 6m t t a l a Figure .4.is a sectional viewgtalgen substantially on the plane inidicatedbygtheilinefigi oi r'i thelatcltboltinitsreleaseiposltiont I H 6 ,is; a ;srQ5 s ams} aviewitakenksnhinsures sis mama: to Figure l} showing stantially on the plane indicated by the lines-*6 of Figure 4. a

While the latch forming the subject matter of this invention is capable of manyand'diversifled uses, nevertheless, it isrpartlcularly adapted for installation on rear deck closuresrof motor vehiclegbodies to securely fastenytheclosures in their closed positions. In Figure lbof thehdrawings, I havelshown my improved latch mechanism as beinginstalledon-a rear decloclosure having a substantial slope, and the following description will illustrate the efiective manner inwhich the latch operates to securely fastenthe closure in place regardless of the degree ofslope of the deck'on whichthe closure isimounted. It will, of course, be; understood that; the latch mechaj nismis not limited to this'particularuse and that I contemplate employing the latch mechanism in any instance wherefarelatively simple,

inexpensivelatchis desired: 9 i I Referringmore particularly toFigure l of the drawings, it will be noted that the reference character l0 designates,v generally, the rear deck of a motonvehicle body, :and the numeral Ildesignates a closure hingedly connected to the vehicle bodywfor upwardswinging movement'from the positionthereof shownx-in Figure 1. When the closure His1in its closedposition, shown in Figure Lyme-swinging edge thereof rests upon a platform l2 and is held in thisposition by means ofalatch l3; t l

The latch 13 comprises ailatch plate M and a pivoted bolt I5 supported on the latch plate M forswinging movement. The latch plate !4 is substantially channel-shaped. in cross section and is provided withrllaterally extending attaching e flanges ISa'dapted .to'be secured in any suitable onai view o'ffthe latch mannerto theinner side of'the closure ll ad- :jacent the swinging edge of the latter. The bolt I5 is providedwith a hook-shaped portion ll at the free end thereofadapted to swing into ena ement with a suitable keeper l8 carried by the platform I2 of'the vehicle body and cooperating withthe keeper to secure the 'closurein its closed position. As will be more fullyhereinafter set forth,:the hook-shaped end of the bolt I5 is swung into and out of engagement with the keeper! bymeans of a suitableroperating han- .dle I8 accessible for convenient manipulation exteriorly of the closure II; a

Referring now more in detail to the latch mechanism, it will be noted that the-channel of the plate I4 opens upwardly and that angope'ning 20 is formed throughthe-baseportion 2l of theiplate 3 I'l adjacent the lower endof the latter.

The bolt I5 is also channel-shaped in cross section and is positioned at the bottom side of the plate M in a manner to extend across the opening 26. Upon reference to Figure 6, it will be noted that the bolt extends between a pair of ears 22 extending downwardly from the opposite side edges of the opening 20 and having aligned opening therethrough for receiving a pivot pin 23. The pin 23 projects through slots 24 formed in the opposite side flanges 25 of the channel-shaped bolt I5, and the slots 24 are elongated in a di-.

rection to permit limited sliding movement of the bolt relative to the supporting plate [4. 7

When the bolt 55 is swung to its latching position, shown in Figure 4, the upper ends of the side flanges 25 abut the bottom surface of the base portion 2| on the supporting plate directly above the opening Zll so that the bolt is positively prevented from swinging movement about the pin 23 to its released position, shown in Figure 5. It may, also, be pointed out that when'the bolt is in its latching position, the pin 23 occupies a position in the lower ends of the slots 24 and these'slots are of sufficient length to permit sliding the bolt in a downward direction sufficiently to disengage the upper end portions of the side fianges 25 on the bolt from the underside of the supporting plate. In other words, when the bolt 15 is moved downwardly relative to the supporting plate M the distance permitted by the slots 24, the upper 'endof the bolt l5as-.

sumes a position in registration with the opening in the plate l4 and may be swung through the opening 26.

The bolt I5 is moved downwardly relative to the supporting plate M to release the upper end tion 35 is riveted over a suitable washer 31 which slidably engages the underside of the supporting plate and cooperates with the head 28 on the opposite end of the pin to secure the parts in assembled relationship.

Upon reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that the contour of the cam slot 33 is predetermined to slide, the plate30 in a downward direction upon rotation of the cam 32 in the direction of the arrow 39 in Figure 2 and to slide the plate 30 in an upward direction from the position thereof shown in Figure 5 upon rotation'of the cam in the opposite direction, It will, also, be

of the bolt from abutting engagement with the supporting plate by the same mechanismemployed to swing the bolt about the pin 23 to'its released position, shown in Figure 5. The bolt 15 is swung about the .pin' 23 by means of a link 26 having the lower end extending through the opening 22 in the supporting plate and extending through a slot 21 formed in the basevportion of the channel-shaped bolt I5. is also channel-shaped in cross section, andtlhe lower ends of the side flanges 28 are respectively pivotallyconnected to the side flanges of the bolt l5 by means of a transverse pin 29. The pivotal connection between the lower end of the link and the bolt i5 is spaced from the pin 23 in a downward direction so that initial movement of the upper end of the link 26 in a corresponding direction effects a sliding movement of the bolt I5 is a downward direction tov disengage the upper end of the bolt from the underside of the supporting plate. Continued downward movement of the upper end of the link'26 relative to the plate l4 swings the bolt I5 to its released position, shown in Figure 5.

The link 26 is operated to in turn actuate the bolt l5 by means of a plate 30 slidably mounted on the top surface of the base portion 2| of the supporting plate 14 and hingedly connectedto the upper end of the link 26 by means of a pin 3|. The plate 30 in turn is moved'relative to the supporting plate by means of a cam 32 mounted on the supporting plate for rotation in a plane parallel to the latter and having a cam slot 33 through the lower end thereof. The cam slot .23 is adapted to slldably receive aheaded pin 34 having a reduced portion 35 extending through the plate 32 and through an elongated slot 36 formed in the base portion 21 of the sup porting plate. The extremity of the reduced pot- The link 25 noted from Figure 2 that one flange of the channel-shaped supporting plate is slotted at M] to permit movement of the cam therethrough when the cam is located in the extreme position thereof, shown in Figure 2. The cam 32 is yieldably held in both of its extreme positions of adjustment by means of a spring detent ll alternately engageable in suitable recesses 42 formed in the bottom edge of the cam adjacent opposite ends of the slot. In this connection, it will be noted that the bottom edgeof the cam is contoured to correspond to the contour of 'the'cam-slot so that the spring detent rides along this edge as the cam is operated.

Referring again to Figure 4,1itwill be noted that a plate 43 is secured to the base portion 2i of the supporting plate M in spaced relation to the top surface of the base portion and is provided with an opening 44 therethrough having a' cylindrical flange 45 adapted to extend into a recess 46 formed in the top surface of the cam 32 adjacent the upper end of the latter. The recess 46 is provided with a cylindrical side 'wall which rotatably engages the adjacent wall of the cylindrical flange 45, with the result that the cam 32 rotates about'the flange 45; It will,also, be observed that the base portion 2! of the supporting plate M is formed with an opening 41in alignment with the openingA-l and is provided with a cylindrical flange 48. The flange 43 extends towardthe flange 45 and'is adapted to rotatably receive a hubportion 49 formed on" the cam 32. ,It follows from the above that the cylindrical flanges 45 and 48 cooperate with each other and with portions'of the cam 32toro'tat ably support the latter on the plate l4. The hub portion 49 on the cam 32 is formed with a polygonally shaped opening therethrough for receiving a correspondingly shaped shank 5B extendingfrom the operating handle l9. The arrangementis such that the cam 32 'is operated to in turn operate the bolt l5 by'means of the handle l9, previously described as being located for convenient manipulation by the operator.

It has been stated above that when the parts of the latch mechanism are in the position shown in Figure 4, accidental or unauthorized movementof the bolt l5 towardits released po-' sition about the axis of the pin 29 is positively prevented by abutting engagement of the'upper end of the bolt with the underside'of the supporting plate l4, As shown in Figure 4. un-

authorized movement of the bolt l5 toward its released position is further prevented b-ymeans of the base portion 5| of the channel-shaped link 26.v In the latched position of thebolt IS, the undersideof the base" portion 5|- engages the top of the pin 23 and theupper end of this base portion extends through the opening 20. in the supporting plate and hooks over the adja cent edge of thefopenin g. As a result of the above construction the base portion 5| coacts projection 58 into the notch 51. above, the slide 56 is moved by the cam 55 through the medium of the key operated shank .mtne to -block swi i e tms-1mm in the dinecflomnequired ta releaseithe holtitrom'the keeper. it williurther some iron-Figures that the configuration of. the base portion is such thatethisbaseportton does mot l:

interfere i with swinging -.-movement: of =the bolt when latterbhas been shifted downwardly slmciently to disengage the uppor end thereof from {the adjacent portion .of athe supporting plate J M. As-areal: of thecfomflfl ng, a closure equipped with my .lm.proved Match cannot be danced to its opfln mention without rflrst operating thenbolt bymanipulating t8.

In the event it: is, desired to look the operating laagainst. movementsto nelease the bolt B, a. suitablakey-opemted cylinder locki having aahank fl mayabepmvided. Tus -shank haaa polygonally-shapedllower .endportion adapted or engage ina .-bushin-g 5i 'rotatably supportedontheplates Manor-t3. "me arrangement is that: the shank--53. is operated by a suitable-key (not. shown) to; rotate the bushing as im; one -direction or the other. the bushing -ina positionbetween theplates I4 and 43 is a cam 55. Thiscam is-seatod within-a recessiormedin a slide 56 having a notch 51 in the lower edge thereof for receiving a projection 58 extending upwardly from the cam 32.

:Secured to ing movementinto and out of engagementewitli .amkeeper, a plate mountedon r the supporting member at the opposite side of: the latter I for sliding movementrelative-thereto in a direction .toward and away from the halt, a link having one end"connected to said plate: and=-having the portionabutting a portion of-the supporting member-1adjacent onemarginal edge of the openingpreventingswinging-movement of the bolt {nember-to its-released position;means pivotally mounting the bolt member said supporting member including 1 a pinea-rried by one *of the members-and extending through an elongated When the latch bolt I5 is in its latched position,

the projection 58 on the cam 32 is in alignment with the notch 51 so that the bolt may be locked in its latched position by merely moving the slide 55 in a downward direction to locate the As stated Operation Assuming that the parts of the latch mecha- J nisin are in the position thereof shown in Figure 4 and that it is desired to move the latch I 5 plate 30,it follows that the latterplate is moved in a downward direction. As thepplate 30 moves downwardly, the link 26 imports a corresponding movement to the bolt l5 and the upper end of the bolt is released from contact with the adiacent portion of the supporting plate l4. Also,

f the base portion 5| of the link is moved out of i interference with the pin 23 and thereafter the boltis swung about the pin 23 to the position thereof shown in Figure 5.

It will, of course,belunderstood that rotation of the operating handle IS in the opposite direction efiects a movementof the plate 30in an upward direction and the bolt is returned to its latched position shown in Figure 4 through the medium of the link 26. As pointed out above, when the bolt I5 has been moved to its latched position the projection 58 on the cam 32 is in alignment with the recess 51 in the lock slide 56.

As a result, the parts may be locked in their respective latched positions by moving the slide ,56 in a downward direction to engage the projection 58 in the recess 51.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A latch having a supporting member, a bolt member pivotally mounted on the supporting member at one side of the latter for swingslot; in the other member; 1 a plate mounted on the suppo'rting member *at the -opposite side of the latter-for sliding movement toward and away from the bolt member, a link having one end operatively connected to said plate and having the other end extending through the opening in the supporting member, means connecting said other end of the link to the bolt at a point spaced from the pin aforesaid and responsive to sliding movement of the plate in one direction to successively shift the bolt relative to the supporting member thedistance required to locate the abutting portion aforesaid of the, bolt in registration with the opening in the supporting member and to swing the bolt about said pin to its released position.

3. A latch having a supporting member provided with an opening therethrough, a bolt member located at one side of the supporting member in a position to bridge the opening through the latter and having spaced portions engaging the adjacent side of the supporting member at opposite edges of the opening, means carried by said supporting member and pivotally engaging the bolt member between the portions aforesaid of the bolt, said means including a pin extending through an elongated slot in one of said members to provide for shifting movement of the bolt member relative to the supporting member, a plate mounted on the opposite side of the supporting member for sliding movement toward and away from the bolt, a link having one end'pivotally connected to the plate and having the other end extending through the opening in the supporting member, and means pivotally connecting said other end of the link to the bolt at a point spaced from said pin and responsive to sliding movement of the plate in one direction to successively shift the bolt relative to the supporting member a sufficient distance to register one end of the bolt with the opening in the supporting member and to swing the bolt about the axis of said pin.

4. A latch having a supporting plate, a bolt member pivotally mounted on said supporting plate at one side of the latter for swinging movement into and out of engagement with a keeper, a member mounted on the opposite side of the plate for sliding movement. toward and away from the bolt, a link having one end pivotally connected to said slidable member and having the other end extending through the supporting member, means pivotally connecting said other end of the link to the, bolt at a point spaced from the axis of swinging movement of said bolt, a'cam mounted on the supporting member for rocking movement, and a connection between said cam and slidable member for actuating the latter.

5. A latch having a supporting member, a bolt pivotally mounted on said supporting member for swinging movement into and out of engagement with a keeper, a plate mounted on the supporting member for sliding movement toward and away fromthe bolt, a link connecting the plate to said bolt for swinging the latter about the pivotal connection thereof with said supporting member, a cam mounted on the supporting member in superposed relation to the plate for rocking movement relative to the plate and having a cam slot therethrough, a pin carried by said plate and extending into saidcam slot, and means for rocking said cam 6. A latch having a supporting member, a bolt member pivotally mounted on the supporting member for swingingmovement into and out of engagement with a keeper, means pivotally mounting the bolt member on said supporting member including a pin carried by one of the members and extending through an elongated slot in the other member permitting limited sliding movement of the bolt member relative to the supporting member, aplate mounted on the supnected to the plate and having the other end pivotally connected to the bolt member at a point spaced from the pivotal connection of the bolt member with the supporting member whereby movement of the plate in one direction relative to the supporting member shifts the bolt on the supporting member and efiects a swinging movement of the bolt relative to the supporting memher, and means on said link adapted to abut said pivot pin in the latched position of the bolt to prevent swinging movement of said bolt and releasable from the pivot pin upon movement of the plate in said last named direction to permit swinging movement of the bolt relative to the supporting member.

JOSEPH G. JOACHIM. 

